CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Eleven softball student-athletes, seven of which were all-conference selections in 2010, have been named to the America East Softball All-Academic team, as was announced today. These student athletes, who excel both academically as well as athletically, represent the best of the America East Conference.

Hall, Mason, Plemon, Struzenberg and Thompson were also first-team all-conference choices, while Dilworth and Roesch were second-team selections. Kothe and Messinger are repeat All-Academic honorees, while Struzenberg has been recognized in each of the past three seasons.

The All-Academic squads are a product of the June 2005 Athletics Directors meeting where faculty representatives and athletics directors from each of the conference’s nine member institutions decided to honor the league’s top student-athletes, who excel equally in the classroom as they do on the playing field.

For the second straight year, America East has chosen the All-Academic teams using CoSIDA’s Academic All-America program as a model. Student-athletes worthy of consideration are nominated by member sports information directors and voted on by a committee of SIDs, academic advisers and faculty representatives from all nine member institutions.

All-Academic squads for team sports are based on the number of athletes that participate in a contest at one time (e.g., 10 in the lineup for softball) but can be more if there is a tie in voting. To be nominated for the distinction, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve for their team and participate in at least 50 percent of their team’s games or competitions. In the classroom, student-athletes must have a 3.30 GPA and have completed at least one calendar year at their institution. Freshmen are not eligible for consideration.